Editing Teshuvah (section)

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Teshuvah is a mitzvah incumbent upon one who has transgressed, requiring them to abandon their sin and return to the correct path. Additionally, they must confess and seek forgiveness from Hashem for their sin. Beyond the basic obligation, teshuvah is a path in avodas Hashem and includes many tikkunim and actions that the repentant must do to achieve atonement and return to being beloved before Hashem as before the sin. One who has done teshuvah is called a baal teshuvah, and their level is higher than that of a tzaddik who never sinned.

According to Chassidus, teshuvah is not only about sins and transgressions, but primarily a movement of the nefesh Elokis returning to its true place, as it was before descending to this world, to be connected to the Kadosh Baruch Hu.

Generally, teshuvah is divided into two levels: teshuvah tataah (lower teshuvah) which is repentance for transgressions, and teshuvah ilaah (higher teshuvah) which is the return of the nefesh Elokis to its root.

The Chabad Rebbeim attributed great significance to the avodah of teshuvah, as it is told that the Alter Rebbe defined his work as making baalei teshuvah. There is extensive discussion of this topic in Chassidus. Several chassidic seforim were especially dedicated to explaining the mitzvah of teshuvah in both nigleh and Chassidus, beginning with Igeres HaTeshuvah - the third section of the foundational text of Chabad Chassidus, the Tanya, as well as the seforim of the Mitteler Rebbe: Shaarei Teshuvah, Derech Chaim, and Pokeach Ivrim.